Increased Immigration Screening in the U.S. May Cause Delays

The Donald Trump administration is introducing stricter screening procedures for all immigration applicants. This is indicated by internal U.S. government documents obtained by the media.

USCIS now sends applications, including green card, asylum, and citizenship cases, for expanded FBI screening. Until the updated screening is completed, officers have been instructed to refrain from approving cases.

USCIS previously used FBI databases to assess applicants for potential national security threats. However, the new measures became possible after expanded access to federal criminal databases was granted under an executive order signed by Trump in February.

We discussed this in our Instagram post.

The document requires the Department of Justice to provide USCIS with access to such data “to the maximum extent permitted by law.”

Who may be affected?

• green card applicants

• citizenship applicants

• cases involving biometrics, including fingerprints

• sponsored relatives and fiancé(e) visa applications for U.S. citizens

USCIS may now re-run fingerprint checks if the previous check was completed before April 27. The exception applies to cases where a denial is already being planned.

In an official comment, a USCIS spokesperson confirmed the implementation of the new procedures, noting that case processing continues, although short-term delays may occur.

The enhanced screening is part of the Trump administration’s broader policy of tightening immigration procedures.

Applicants are now being reviewed more closely, including potential analysis of their social media. In addition, some immigration processes have already slowed down or been temporarily paused, especially for countries included in the “travel ban” list.

What does this mean for immigrants in practice?

In practice, it is not so much the law that is changing, but the approach to case review. Now, what matters is not only what is included in your case, but also how it appears to the officer: your full history and background.

Even strong cases may take longer due to additional checks or repeated biometrics. There may also be more RFEs, even in cases that previously would have moved forward without questions.

Today, simply “collecting documents” is no longer enough.

It is important to understand:

• how you appear in the system

• what weak points an officer may notice

• how to address them in advance

That is why strategy is now critical.

We discuss this during a strategic session with an immigration attorney: we assess risks, strengthen the case, and build the right filing strategy.

📩 For any questions, please contact us at: info@bloomrich.com.